Franck Carducci – Sheeple
French progressive rock singer/ multi-instrumentalist/ songwriter Franck Carducci, whose live shows are best described as high-energy theatrical prog, recently signed with Esoteric Antenna, the progressive/ classic rock imprint of Cherry Red Records.
It's a move that has paid immediate dividends because Carducci, in the company a dozen or so contributing musicians, has now delivered Sheeple, his most accessible and all-encompassing album to date.
As the title suggests the album, lyrically, looks at aspects of freedom and personal responsibilities in the face of demanded conformity and control.
Musically, Sheeple follows the form of previous Carducci releases such as impacting debut album Oddity (2011) and the excellent Torn Apart (2015) – a mix of shape-shifting long-form pieces, shorter tracks and a couple of vignettes – but this time around there’s a more rock orientated edge, along with an intertwining acoustic theme.
The rock quotient is emphasised from the get-go with the short instrumental title track and following number, 'Self-Righteousness.'
The former, a swirling Hammond organ piece (played by Anthony Honnet) with sheep bleating background, sets up and leads into the hard rockin' latter, which points the finger at those who feel they are morally superior and all should follow (quite topical, wouldn’t you say?).
"Shout! Full of certitudes – sheeple must comply but not compete!" sings Franck Carducci with no little conviction (Carducci also lays down bass on this track).
A tasty Hammond solo from Honnet and blisteringly wicked guitar solo from William Remond helps give this number a classic 70s rock sound.
The first of three themed acoustic pieces then appears in the mythological shape of 'Sweet Cassandra' (the Priestess of Apollo with perfect foresight, but cursed by the Gods to never be believed).
Carrying the musical charm of Francis Dunnery in acoustic mode merged with a summery, harmonica backed vibe, 'Sweet Cassandra' features Mary Renaud on harmony backing vocals.
'The Betrayal Of Blue' is the first of Sheeple’s two-long-form pieces (it was also a highlight of 2023’s The Answer – Live album).
Opening acoustically, the number, which lyrically is a plea from our planet to the species destroying it (that will be us, then), slow builds to a rock instrumental section akin to early 70s Uriah Heep, featuring nice Hammond play from Cedric Selzer and great drum work from Léa Fernandez.
A psychedelic rock part, featuring planet crying theremin, leads to a piano & vocal section before a manic finale. Great stuff.
A short instrumental reprise of 'Sweet Cassandra,' featuring Roy Van Oost on flutes, acts as an interlude of sorts before 'The Limits Of Freedom' rocks out in fine style.
A hard melodic rocker, the song carries a lyric that could only come from the mind of Franck Carducci – life with limited freedom, as seen from the perspective of a dolphin, a pandemic affected billionaire and a rock and roll musician. Another highlight.
It's a move that has paid immediate dividends because Carducci, in the company a dozen or so contributing musicians, has now delivered Sheeple, his most accessible and all-encompassing album to date.
As the title suggests the album, lyrically, looks at aspects of freedom and personal responsibilities in the face of demanded conformity and control.
Musically, Sheeple follows the form of previous Carducci releases such as impacting debut album Oddity (2011) and the excellent Torn Apart (2015) – a mix of shape-shifting long-form pieces, shorter tracks and a couple of vignettes – but this time around there’s a more rock orientated edge, along with an intertwining acoustic theme.
The rock quotient is emphasised from the get-go with the short instrumental title track and following number, 'Self-Righteousness.'
The former, a swirling Hammond organ piece (played by Anthony Honnet) with sheep bleating background, sets up and leads into the hard rockin' latter, which points the finger at those who feel they are morally superior and all should follow (quite topical, wouldn’t you say?).
"Shout! Full of certitudes – sheeple must comply but not compete!" sings Franck Carducci with no little conviction (Carducci also lays down bass on this track).
A tasty Hammond solo from Honnet and blisteringly wicked guitar solo from William Remond helps give this number a classic 70s rock sound.
The first of three themed acoustic pieces then appears in the mythological shape of 'Sweet Cassandra' (the Priestess of Apollo with perfect foresight, but cursed by the Gods to never be believed).
Carrying the musical charm of Francis Dunnery in acoustic mode merged with a summery, harmonica backed vibe, 'Sweet Cassandra' features Mary Renaud on harmony backing vocals.
'The Betrayal Of Blue' is the first of Sheeple’s two-long-form pieces (it was also a highlight of 2023’s The Answer – Live album).
Opening acoustically, the number, which lyrically is a plea from our planet to the species destroying it (that will be us, then), slow builds to a rock instrumental section akin to early 70s Uriah Heep, featuring nice Hammond play from Cedric Selzer and great drum work from Léa Fernandez.
A psychedelic rock part, featuring planet crying theremin, leads to a piano & vocal section before a manic finale. Great stuff.
A short instrumental reprise of 'Sweet Cassandra,' featuring Roy Van Oost on flutes, acts as an interlude of sorts before 'The Limits Of Freedom' rocks out in fine style.
A hard melodic rocker, the song carries a lyric that could only come from the mind of Franck Carducci – life with limited freedom, as seen from the perspective of a dolphin, a pandemic affected billionaire and a rock and roll musician. Another highlight.
'Love or Survive,' the second long-form song, builds from plaintive piano to a vocally harmonised part for 'Part I : Love' before switching to an effective rock part that carries echoes of Renaissance and John Miles at his most Music-ally creative (great guitar solo here from Carducci).
The song returns to supported vocal & piano for 'Part II : Survive' before a Hammond led transitional piece sets up 'Part III : Choose', a repeating "what/ how do you choose?" multi-vocal part with rock and roll finish.
Another winner.
'Sweet Cassandra' (2019), wholly performed by Franck Carducci, is the final piano, bass & mellotron led instalment of the Greek Priestesses theme and, effectively, the final song of the album.
There is a bonus track, 'Do What You’re Told,' which reinforces the album’s main theme, (complete with bleating intro & outro), but the repeated "I/ You/ We Do What We’re Told" chant starts to wear well before song’s end. As such, it's best heard as an afterword to an otherwise excellent album.
With seven albums (including two live releases and an acoustic collaboration with Mary Renaud) now under his belt, 500 and counting live shows, and supports to the likes of Marillion, Focus, Sting and Steve Hackett (the latter also guested on Torn Apart; his brother, John Hackett, appeared on Oddity) Franck Carducci is not exactly an unknown.
But a Launch Show at Liverpool’s Cavern Club and a Gatefold Vinyl edition of Sheeple help show that there’s a concerted effort to lift Franck Carducci’s UK profile even higher.
Given the accessible (by prog standards) nature of Sheeple, his most accomplished and all-encompassing album to date, he has every chance of picking up that deserved, and wider, recognition.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase Sheeple on CD or Vinyl: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/artist/franck-carducci
Digital (and back catalogue): https://franckcarducci.bandcamp.com/album/sheeple
The song returns to supported vocal & piano for 'Part II : Survive' before a Hammond led transitional piece sets up 'Part III : Choose', a repeating "what/ how do you choose?" multi-vocal part with rock and roll finish.
Another winner.
'Sweet Cassandra' (2019), wholly performed by Franck Carducci, is the final piano, bass & mellotron led instalment of the Greek Priestesses theme and, effectively, the final song of the album.
There is a bonus track, 'Do What You’re Told,' which reinforces the album’s main theme, (complete with bleating intro & outro), but the repeated "I/ You/ We Do What We’re Told" chant starts to wear well before song’s end. As such, it's best heard as an afterword to an otherwise excellent album.
With seven albums (including two live releases and an acoustic collaboration with Mary Renaud) now under his belt, 500 and counting live shows, and supports to the likes of Marillion, Focus, Sting and Steve Hackett (the latter also guested on Torn Apart; his brother, John Hackett, appeared on Oddity) Franck Carducci is not exactly an unknown.
But a Launch Show at Liverpool’s Cavern Club and a Gatefold Vinyl edition of Sheeple help show that there’s a concerted effort to lift Franck Carducci’s UK profile even higher.
Given the accessible (by prog standards) nature of Sheeple, his most accomplished and all-encompassing album to date, he has every chance of picking up that deserved, and wider, recognition.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase Sheeple on CD or Vinyl: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/artist/franck-carducci
Digital (and back catalogue): https://franckcarducci.bandcamp.com/album/sheeple